Audience delight in ‘steampunk’ production

This Gothic Victorian-staged ‘steampunk’ production of Macbeth, directed by David Twizell pushed a few boundaries to the delight of the packed auditorium.

Probably the best-known of Shakespeare’s tragedies, Macbeth receives a prophecy from the three witches fortelling his rise to become Scotland’s king, with subsequent dire, blood-soaked consequences.

Some welcome light relief was provided excellently by Porter (Ann Thompson) notwithstanding artistic license with her knock-knock jokes and references to the topical subject of Brexit.

MacDuff (Ian Simpson) was a delight to listen to with excellent diction and projection and was convincing in his role.

However, it was Macbeth (Anthony Henry) and flame-haired Lady Macbeth (Sarah Jane Stone) who raised the bar. Their body language and grasp of the essence of the characters was a delight, particularly Lady Macbeth’s eagerly anticipated entrances in her decline from scheming spouse to madwoman.

The entire 16-strong cast were just about word perfect, which is no mean feat, and David Twizell’s Shakespearean directorial debut has proved to be a resounding success.